The Journal of antimicrobial chemotherapy
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J. Antimicrob. Chemother. · Aug 2006
Review Meta AnalysisUse of chlorhexidine-impregnated dressing to prevent vascular and epidural catheter colonization and infection: a meta-analysis.
Vascular and epidural catheter-related infections cause significant morbidities and mortality in hospitalized patients. This meta-analysis assessed the effect of chlorhexidine-impregnated dressing on the risk of vascular and epidural catheter bacterial colonization and infection. ⋯ Chlorhexidine-impregnated dressing is effective in reducing vascular and epidural catheter bacterial colonization and is also associated with a trend towards reduction in catheter-related bloodstream or CNS infections. A large randomized controlled trial is needed to confirm whether chlorhexidine-impregnated dressing is cost-effective in preventing bacterial infection related to vascular and epidural catheters.